Fisheries Department for tie-up with Singapore for aqua park

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Fisheries Department and the Fish Research Management Society are planning to go in for collaboration with the Singapore Government's Agri-food and Veterinary Authority for setting up an aqua park at Kadungalore in Ernakulam District.

A decision to this effect was taken after talks between Fisheries Minister Dominic Presentation and Singapore Agri-food and Veterinary Authority Director Leslie Chiang and Ling Kai Huat, head of the aquaculture Centre of the Authority for setting up the aqua park.

The park would be established in a 10-acre plot with the financial assistance of the Marine Product Export Development Authority with a view to promoting ornamental fish market. The Singapore authority has expressed the willingness to train Kerala officials in modern fisheries technology, Mr. Presentation told The Hindu.

He said that he had also held discussions with Technofish Green Aquaculture, a Malaysian company, for developing an aquarium near Neyyar Dam. The State Government had already spent Rs.2 crores on the aquarium and the work had been stalled on this project. Mr. Presentation said he held discussions with company managing director Raymond Cheah and Director Xiang Lengh on the proposal.

He said that the two proposals would help boost export of ornamental fish from Kerala. A few ornamental fish varieties were popular in the world market. Technofish had also expressed its willingness to train youths in ornamental fisheries.

He said that the Malaysian team would arrive in Kerala this month.

The team is expected to conduct a survey on exports. The Malaysian group would extend financial and technical support for the project proposals prepared by the Fisheries Department for setting up the aquarium at Neyyar.

Malaysia and Singapore would participate in the International Ornamental Fish Exhibition in February 2, Mr. Presentation said.